Finally, on a more serious note. As the year comes to an end, let's reflect and remember all that's happened this past year. From Marriage Equality, the restoration of US-Cuba diplomatic relations, and the climate accord, to the Nepal earthquakes, senseless killings, and the Syrian crisis, 2015 has been a year full of ups and downs, full of happy times and heartbreaking moments. Here's to 2015.

Happy Holidays! See you in 2016.

Sincerely,

Mario Choi

BALIF Board Treasurer

BALIF Partner Exchange Luncheon

When: Tuesday, December 15, 2015; Thursday, January 21, 2016

Time: 12:30pm to 2:00pm

Where: San Francisco City Club (155 Sansome, 10th Floor)

What: Gourmet buffet lunch with other partners and firm owners

Cost: $40 payable by cash or check only

BALIF has created the BALIF Partner Exchange to bring together our members that are looking to network and exchange business and ideas. This event is exclusively for BALIF members who are partners or ownersof their firm with 7 years or more of experience.

Time is running out! The California Bar Association is providing matching grants to bar associations interested in sponsoring a 3L Diversity Scholarship. The 3L Diversity Scholarship helps diverse graduates become public interest lawyers. Valued at $5,000, the scholarship covers bar exam prep, including a Barbri course and a $1,000 living stipend. Join by December 20th! More information email scholarships@calbarfoundation.org

BALIF 36th Annual Gala

BALIF Gala: Equality Affirmed! BALIF's 36th Annual Gala is on February 19, 2016. If you haven't done so yet, now is the time to sponsor BALIF and purchase your tickets to the Gala. This year's format is an elegant cocktail party with food stations and drinks sprinkled around the venue. It's a fabulous format for mingling with old friends and meeting new ones. Don't miss the best party of the year!

Your sponsorship of BALIF and ticket purchases will fund law student scholarships, mentor programs, CLE, Amicus briefs on LGBT issues, LGBT recruiting, social events to LGBT lawyers, community outreach, and much more. If your business or firm would still like to sponsor the Gala, it is not too late to take advantage of some of the many benefits of sponsorship, such as recognition through the end of 2016 on the BALIF website and newsletter, and complimentary tickets to the gala.

The Gala is BALIF's largest annual event with more than 600 attendees, including lawyers, judges, lawmakers, legal professionals, students, and in-house counsel. Please join us to celebrate the amazing progress our community has made over the past year.

When: Friday, February 19th from 7-11pm

Where: Bently Reserve, 301 Battery St., San Francisco, California

Want to get the party started early? BALIF members and Gala attendees will be meeting for a pre-party Gala location: TBA Starting at 5:30 pm on the night of the Gala, please stop by for a pre-Gala cocktail, meet new friends, reconnect with old ones, and prepare yourself for the Gala!

Please visit the BALIF website at balif.org/sponsorship for sponsorship information or to purchase individual tickets. For more information email.

Diversity Scholarship Opportunity for ABA Forum on Construction Law

The American Bar Association Forum on Construction Law

Forum's Midwinter Meeting, "Livin' on the Fault Line: Cutting Edge Solutions for Seismic Events that Threaten Your Construction Client," will be held January 21 - 22, 2016 at the Westin St. Francis on Union Square in San Francisco, California.

The Forum is pleased to announce the availability of six (6) Diversity Scholarships for the cost of registration for this program for women and minority construction lawyers, construction lawyers with disabilities, and construction lawyers from the LGBT community, whose practices are based in California. Individuals wishing to be considered for a scholarship should submit a copy of their resume and a letter describing their construction law practice and the reasons why they want to attend the Midwinter Meeting. Applications are due no later than December 21, 2015. If selected, candidates must commit to attend the program. The scholarships are not transferable.

BALIF's twitter feed is up and running. Follow us to see BALIF news, event info, #ThrowbackThursday posts, and more. Just click the Twitter button in the right hand column of the newsletter or here.

Join the BALIF Listserv!

Have a job or need one? Civil procedure question? Need a

referral? Have something important to ask ... or news to tell? Want to get to our members quickly? Join our Listserv!

BALIF members should have received our invitation to join our newly-created Listserv. You must proactively respond to the request in order to be added to our Listserv. If you didn't get a request, please let us know by emailing technology@balif.org or balif@balif.org.

We Want Your BALIFBuzz

We all love that section in our alumni newsletters that talks about who's doing what.

Well, we're introducing the BALIFBuzz to show-off all the great things that our members are doing. BALIFBuzz will be appearing in the weekly BALIF newsletter.